Collaborative Research: Spatial and Temporal Variability of Ground Temperature and Thaw, Northern Alaska

该项目将更详细地研究阿拉斯加北部土壤的融化深度。气候变化正在增加融化和侵蚀永久冻土的深度，同时也对植被、水文平衡和人类结构产生影响。这项研究将改进现有的在地方和区域尺度上绘制融化深度图的方法。将在一系列空间尺度上对浅层热状况进行评估，以阐明土壤结构对热传输的作用。大雪荷载对融化深度的影响将基于操纵性实验进行检验。此外，该项目还将检查受阿拉斯加北部一个社区影响的热岛的作用。

The project will examine in greater detail the depth of thawing of the soils in northern Alaska. Climate change is increasing the depth of thaw and eroding permafrost with concomitant impacts on vegetation, the hydrological balances, and human structures. This research will refine existing methods for mapping the depth of thaw on local and regional scales. The shallow thermal regime will be evaluated across a spectrum of spatial scales in order to elucidate the role of soil structure on heat transport. The impact of heavy snow loading on the thaw depth will be examined based on manipulative experiments. Also, the project will also examine the role of the heat island affect by a community in northern Alaska.